Project Summary: A conservation bank is helping to restore the gopher tortoise, protect black pine snakes, and ensure affordable house lots in Mobile County, Alabama.

The gopher tortoise is a keystone species of the longleaf pine ecosystem-over 360 other species use tortoise burrows

Resource Challenge

Nearly 20 percent of Mobile County, Alabama’s population lives below the poverty level. Low incomes have created a demand for small, affordable house lots, fragmenting the longleaf pine habitat essential to the threatened gopher tortoise. Much of the undeveloped habitat is in poor condition because of inadequate management.

Afraid it would run afoul of the Endangered Species Act, Mobile County stopped issuing building permits in 1999 for areas with tortoise populations. Besides being controversial among landowners and developers, it quickly became apparent that a moratorium by itself would not improve gopher tortoise survival.

The Mobile Area Water and Sewage System (MAWSS) proposed that the County establish a “conservation bank” on properties around its reservoir. The “bank” is a large piece of property that can be managed more effectively than a smaller number of unconnected tracts. Landowners and developers who had tortoise habitat on their property could purchase credits to fund management at the “bank” and to continue building. The MAWSS could also use credits to add more land to the bank, expanding its quality habitat that more than makes up for land lost to development.

In 2001, about 220 acres of longleaf pine habitat became the gopher tortoise conservation bank. Today, more than 55 bank credits have been sold for $3,500 per credit. As the bank’s owner, MAWSS ﬁnances tortoise conservation on its lands while helping to avoid a costly endangered species controversy.

Environmental Defense assisted in designing the conservation bank and drafting its habitat conservation plan. The USDI Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) works with MAWSS to manage the bank and monitor the tortoise population. The University of South Alabama also monitors the bank, while a science advisory board assists with the bank’s operation.

Examples of Key Partners

FWS, MAWSS, Environmental Defense, University of South Alabama, Advisory Board of scientists

Results and Accomplishments

Since the bank began, the number of resident tortoises has grown from 12 to more than 60, the result of natural reproduction and relocations from development sites. The bank is also providing habitat to black pine snakes, a candidate species for listing. Indeed, the bank has been so successful that MAWSS may expand it to additional lands.

The bank has been equally successful for developers and home buyers. The moratorium on building permits was lifted, allowing construction of affordable housing to continue.

Innovation/Highlight

Conservation “banks,” funded by landowners and developers, create large blocks of high quality habitat and provide funds for listed species management.